Re: [Harp-L] Re: Hohner Price Increase

[Frank Evers <frank@xxxxxxxxx>]

Am Freitag, 22. Januar 2010 schrieb John F. Potts:
> If players like MBs, that's great, and I'm certain custom MBs are  
> terrific instruments. 

Recent stock MSs are terrific, too. At least compared to most other 
stock harmonicas ;)

> But I just find it difficult to accept that
>  in   the 21st century a major manufacturer is making a harmonica
>  put together with nails using unsealed combs that swell.

Why should a manufacturer stop producing a product while there's still 
demand for it? Hohner does make Marine Bands with screws and non 
swelling combs, but still they sell the thing with nails. Give me one 
good reason why a 21st century major manufacturer should stop 
producing a top seller?

And then the price! Do you really think Hohner would increase prices 
right now (!) if there was a chance not to do so? Somebody asked for 
european prices. They have been increased slightly over the last few 
years. about five years ago i paid 23Euros for a Sp20, now i pay 26 
and included those 3 Euros is a tax increase.
The USD has been incredibly weak for years now and the US Government 
did everything to keep it like that to make inports expensive and 
exports cheap. Ask all the amp builders, mic and harp customizers, 
pedal makers wether they have sold well to europe recently. We 
europeans bought in the US like hell because it's  extremly cheap for 
us to get all that stuff overseas if we can pay with Euros!

The other way round US buyers have now to pay more for imported 
products. Companies like Hohner have insurances to cover exchange rate 
risk, so they could keep US prices relativly stable quite a while. But 
any insurance runs out some day and if Hohner doesn't want to go broke 
very quickly they have increase prices at some point.
It's not like Hohner is making big money. No I'm not an insider, but 
their annual report is openly available on the internet, so...

-- 
Gruß,Frank